UConn Moments: Top 10 Men's Players

Many would argue that Ray Allen is the best player to come out of UConn. He is one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history and likely will become the first ex-Husky inducted into the Hall of Fame. But he's not No. 1 on this list.

Many would argue that Caron Butler would dribble circles around, say, Wes Bialosuknia if the two played one-on-one. Where's Hasheem Thabeet, one of the most dominant defensive players in program history and a No. 2 overall draft pick? How about Cliff Robinson? He played nearly 20 years in the NBA. Heck, if Bialosuknia or Tony Hanson had a three-point line, either could be the leading scorer in the history of the program. Both could be higher, no?

Here's the thing with a list like this: It can be viewed and compiled in many ways. There are a few no-brainers, sure. And so many more players are worthy of consideration behind the Rips and the Rays. The goal here was to highlight the 10 best UConn careers, taking nothing into account beyond their days in Storrs.

So while Allen continues to be the standard-bearer for UConn's NBA success, he didn't have the three-year run in Storrs of Hamilton or Emeka Okafor (both national champions). The following is our list of the 10 best and most influential college careers in UConn history.

1. Ham, Extra Mustard

Richard Hamilton (1996-99):

"Rip," a two-time first team All-American and two-time Big East player of the year, was the 1999 Final Four's Most Outstanding Player. He led UConn to its first national title by averaging 24.2 points in the NCAA Tournament. He is second on the UConn all-time scoring list, finishing with 2,036, the most in any three-year span in program history. His career scoring average of 19.8 is third-best in program history. Hamilton was selected seventh in the 1999 NBA draft and led the Pistons to a title in 2004. Rip came up huge when it mattered most.

2. Think Tank

Emeka Okafor (2001-04):

Okafor, the NABC and Sports Illustrated national player of the year in 2003-04, was the dominant centerpiece of UConn's second national title. He was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player after turning in dominant performances against Duke and Georgia Tech. Okafor, the national defensive player of the year and an All-American as a sophomore and junior, holds the UConn record for career blocks with 441. He was also a force in the classroom, graduating in three years, and was National Academic All-American of the Year in 2004. The best player on probably the best team in UConn history, Okafor was selected second overall by the Charlotte Bobcats and was NBA Rookie of the Year.

3. The Greatest Alum

Ray Allen (1993-96):

Allen was a two-time first-team All-American at UConn and, when his spectacular NBA career is over, should be the first UConn player inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Huskies were 49-5 in Big East play during Allen's tenure. He averaged 23.4 points as a junior, 19.0 for his three-year career, and is fourth on the all-time scoring list with 1,922 points. Allen holds UConn records for most three-pointers made in a season (115 in 1996) and best three-point percentage (44.8). Allen was the No.5 pick in the 1996 NBA draft and is a nine-time All-Star. He is second on the NBA's all-time list for three-pointers made.

4. Revel 'Yell

Donyell Marshall (1991-94):

Marshall was arguably the most dominant player in program history during his three years. He was UConn's first consensus first-team All-American and a finalist for national player of the year in 1993-94. As a junior, he led the Big East in scoring (25.1 points a game) and blocks (111). Marshall, who twice scored a career-high 42 points against St. John's in 1994, holds the single-season record for points with 855 in 1993-94. Selected fourth in the 1994 NBA draft, Marshall has played for seven teams, collecting more than 10,000 points and 6,000 rebounds. Perhaps most impressive among all of Marshall's accomplishments? He recorded 20-plus points in a record 23 consecutive games. Chris Smith and Richard Hamilton are second on the list with seven consectutive games.

5. Filling The Stat Sheet

Toby Kimball (1961-65):

Kimball averaged 18.4 points and 17.9 rebounds in his career and had a UConn-record 38 consecutive double-doubles. He led the nation in rebounding in 1964-65 at 21.0 a game. He is No. 2 in UConn history with 1,324 rebounds. Kimball led UConn to a 23-3 record and No. 15 national ranking in 1964-65. A three-time All-Yankee Conference player, Kimball was a third-round pick of the Celtics and played nine seasons in the NBA. He led UConn to three NCAA Tournament berths, including the Elite Eight in 1963-64.

6. You Started It

Chris Smith (1988-92):

Smith is the Huskies' career scoring leader with 2,145 points, and the Bridgeport native is one of the most important recruits Jim Calhoun ever landed &#8212; a local kid who helped push the program to another level. As a sophomore during the Dream Season, he was named the Big East tournament's Most Outstanding Player. As a senior, he was the conference scoring leader at 22.1 points a game. Smith was drafted in the second round by the Minnesota Timberwolves and played three seasons in the NBA.

7. Art Board

Art Quimby (1951-55):

Quimby is not only the best rebounder in UConn history, he's one of the greatest in NCAA history. He led the nation in rebounding average in 1953-54 with 22.6 a game. His 24.4 a game the following season (second in the nation that season and third all time) remains the highest in Huskies history. A three-time All-Yankee Conference player, Quimby's combined points (1,398) and rebounds (1,716) are more than any player in UConn history. He had 40 rebounds against Boston University in 1955 &#8212; the UConn record by six. Quimby's four UConn teams went 80-19 with an NCAA bid in 1954 and a first-ever NIT bid in 1955.

8. Pop Gun

Wes Bialosuknia (1963-67):

The "Poughkeepsie Popper" is UConn's all-time leader in scoring average at 23.6 points a game and the only player in Huskies history to average more than 20 points in each of his seasons. A three-time All-New England player, he averaged 28 points in 1966-67, UConn's single-season record. Bialosuknia scored a career-high 50 points against Maine in 1967, second only to Bill Corley's 51 against New Hampshire the following season. Bialosuknia was a fourth-round pick of the St. Louis Hawks in the 1967 NBA draft and played in 1967-68 for the Oakland Oaks of the ABA.

9. Mr. Big Shot

Tony Hanson (1973-77):

Hanson is the third-leading scorer in UConn history with 1,990 points and No.1 in field goals made (784). He averaged 26 points a game in 1976-77, second-highest in history, was a two-time All-Yankee Conference first-team player and was named to the 1976 NCAA All-Region team as UConn advanced to the Sweet 16. Outstanding numbers would pop more if there was a three-point arc when he played. A three-time All-New England player and third-round pick of the Jazz in 1977, Hanson has played and coached in Europe for most of his professional career.

10. Creative Services

Ben Gordon (2001-04):

Emeka Okafor probably will always be regarded as the best player on the best team in UConn history, but Gordon was the most prolific. He averaged 18.5 points on the Huskies' second national championship team, a year after averaging 19.5 as a sophomore. Gordon is sixth on the Huskies' all-time scoring list with 1,795 points in his three seasons. He left after the title run and was drafted third overall by the Bulls, one spot after Okafor. Simply put, he was one of the most creative and dynamic scorers and playmakers in the program's history and his body of work in the Big East tournament helps elevate him.

EXCELLENT choices. All the kids in CYO were Toby Kimball in the day and one would be hard pressed to find a better shooter than Wes Bialosuknia in any era or any program. Think of the great hard-nose players that are not here: Kevin Freeman, Corny Thompson, Donny Marshall or Scott Burrell whom I saw jump OVER Rodney Rogers at the HCC. UCONN has a long history of basketball and While Calhoun showed up in tough times and changed everything, we have had a lot of great players "BC". We are fortunate to have so many players that are memorable and yet clearly not among the truly gifted elite that could probably stretch to 20 players.

The player summaries are spot on but I don't think that it's an overstatement to say that Khalid El-Amin was the missing piece to the 1st championship & one of the most important Huskies of all-time! No Caron Butler or Uncle Cliffy either, c'mon man?!?

With that said, Caron should be on this list and in the top five in my opinion. He led us Uconn to the elite 8, and was a c hair away from the final four on his shoulders. Caron is a great player and someone we can be proud of as a Uconn Husky.

Thanks for the well-researched, thought-provoking list. I can only comment on the players I've seen. Which eliminates Kimball, Quimby, Bialosuknia, and Hanson.

But based on character, I'd choose Ray as #1. He was calm, articulate, generous of spirit, and, especially, modest. My choice is also influenced by his compassion for disadvantaged youth: when he reached stardom in the NBA, he shared his success by working with disadvantaged youth in the Seattle area. (Yes, I know that's outside your criteria.)

Okafor would be my #2, for many of the reasons you cited. He likely did more to enhance the ever-improving academic reputation of UConn than any other player. Emeka is a class act.

Hamilton, on the other hand, was the stereotypical chest-thumping, "Look at me!" kind of player that I detest. Skilled? Yes. A great player? Yes. But totally self-absorbed. He's easy to admire, but hard to like.

Then, there's the always amiable and likable Donyel. But I still haven't gotten over when he missed the 2 foul shots that cost UConn a chance to move up in the tournament. But he got over it, obviously, given his outstanding and much admired success in the NBA. (He, like Ray, has also "given back.")

Finally, in a few more years, when you do another list, I fully expect Thabeet's name among the top ten. My prediction is based on his drive, alacrity to learn, and his downright likable personality. No player in the history of UConn basketball has come so far so fast. Besides, what other player is trilingual?

I was really happy to see some old time players listed in the top ten. Quimby, Kimball, "Bialosuknia, and Hanson. I saw all of them play. Quimby when I was 10 or 12, Kimball when I attended UCONN, Bialosuknia when I was just out of UCONN, and Hanson a bit later.

Quimby and Kimball averaged double doubles. Today if we get two or three DD's in a row, the press calls attention to it. I really like Thabeet, but he could not rebound at all compared to Q and K. And he had no offensive game.

And boy oh boy, could Bialosuknia shoot. I was in attendance for his 50 point game against Maine. I remember one shot in particular. He had the ball in the back court and was heading straight for the basket with a full head of steam. The defense forced him to his right, still running at full speed, and into the corner, and from there he put up a swisher as he continued full speed out of bounds. One of the most amazing shots I ever saw. I still don't understand how someone could make a shot at a right angle to his direction of travel while going so fast from such a distance. It would have been a three.

One year [3/8/65] we drew St Joe's of Philly as a first round game in the NCAA tourney. They were ranked #2. We jumped out to a 17-3 lead with Shabel as the coach using a zone press and with Kimball and Bialosuknia leading the way. We eventualy lost, 67-61. But Toby Kimball had 29 rebounds against the number 2 team! To that point no one had ever gotten 30 rebounds in the Penn Palestra and it sure looked like he would, but he fell one short. Matt Goukas was on St. Joe's that year.

Dom Perno doesn't belong in the top ten, but he made a play that does. His steal off Bill Bradley with UCONN up 52-50 that sealed our victory in a second round game versus Princeton in 1964. I saw that game on closed circuit TV in the Jorgenson Auditorium. Bradley had 22 points on 6-15 shooting and 10-11 free throws. But he just got a little too close to dom Perno at the end.

So, yeah, we can talk about who should be in the top ten for a long time and never really decide the issue. It is a difficult list to put together. But it brings back memories, and thanks for that!

Bertieboy, I was at that Palestra game when Kimball was a beast. What I remember most was it was St. Joe's defacto home court. They played there often, and during pre game, Goukas went to a spot on that court and swished 12 in a row. They knew every nook and cranny of that place.
I also agree that Wes B was the greatest shooter in UConn history. One of the greatest games ever played at the fieldhouse was vs Rutgers in '68 (I think). It was our backcourt of Wes Bialasuknia and Tom Penders against Rutger's tandem of the nations leading scorer, Bobby Lloyd and Jim Valvano. We won a close exciting game. The noise level was deafening.
I shudder to think of the records Wes would have set with a 3 point line. Almost all of his shots came from beyond that line.

Tony Hanson was the best ball player i saw (i don't remember Wes or Toby).

He could handle the ball better than anyone ever at UConn, except maybe Chris Smith. He was a better shooter than anyone at UConn (never saw Wes), if there was a 3 point shot then he would have averaged 6 or 7 points more per game. He was a great defender.

But one of his greatest skills was rebounding. not necessarily in numbers or statistics, but when it counted. when the game was on the line, nobody in the nation could outrebound Tony.

When we were in high school, I went to basketball camp at URI with Tony. He ended up at UConn and I attempted for a couple years to walk on at Long Beach State, to no avail. I should have stayed local perhaps, but at any rate while at camp i saw one of the most memorable one-on-one games ever: Tony vs Dave Cowens. Cowens won, but Tony was phenomenal!

Khalid El Amin belongs on the list. He tuned out Calhoun and led the Huskies to their first national title. Most point guards are confused by the ranting and raving of Jimmy C., but as El-Amin said many times, I tuned out that nut and took the reins. Thank God he did.

It's hard to pick the top 10. Most don't remember the deep in the corner swishes by Al Weston, or the quickest guard in UCONN History-Jimmy Foster. I would include them, but would Omeka is the BEST...so far

no khalid??? I guess he wasn't on that run with Hamilton. Only comes in as a freshman and takes over. insane not to have him anywhere on the list. Don't tell me there was a better point guard at uconn. if they needed 30 from him in his freshman year he gave it them. whatever was needed. he has got to be tied with gordon. minimum!!!!!!!!!!!

Apparently this list doesn't consider the fact that some of these top 10 players would be playing division II ball in today's world. It's like making a top 10 list of NBA players and putting Wilt Chamberlin first because he scored the most. It's just cause the game hadn't developed and was full of mediocre athletes.

Some of the players in this top 10 would be made a fool of by any of the players in the Big East today. And I understand some sort of parity, but no team pre-calhoun accomplished anything significant, and a number of major contributors to the national champion and final four teams have been left off this list. Also, Ray Allen should be #2, not Emeka, he is down a bit lower.

I have been going to UConn games sinces the mid 60's. It is pretty impossible to pick the top ten given the different era's. Guys like Bobby Staak, Tony Hanson, were really great players back then. Does anyone remember Lee Otis Wilson. He came off the bench as a super sub and hit long shots from everywhere. Some names obviously not on the list but deserve props anyways are: Jimmy Foster, Al Weston, Jim Abromaitis, Doug Melody, Joey Whelton, John Thomas, Earl Kelley, Chuck Aleksinas, Rudy Johnson, Bill Corley and I could go on and on. Just goes to show that UConn has had a lot of really good hoop players.

Jack Rose in the 50's was honorable mention All-American in his first year - Sophomore. Back then Freshmen played on the Freshman team. He was a great ball-handler - even off balance he would spin shots off the glass, uh! backboard - no glass back then.
Then there was Ed Slomcenski, the first near-seven footer who once scored 50 in a game against Maine. Maine's tallest man was several inches shorter than Ed.
Who can forget little Dale Comey, who consistently made "two-handed set shots" from well behind what is the 3-point line today.
In the 40's UConn had Walt Dropo on the team, a well-known Red Sox great.

Mike C., Lee Otis Wilson (#55)will always be my favorite. Remember all the times the fans demanded Dee put him in the game to see him light it up from half court (and beyond?). Dee wanted to take him out, but how could he! And the Joey Whelton-Sweet T. Hanson shows against Holy Cross in their glory years in the 3500 seat gym were the best. Proud to see UConn's success.

Nadav Henefeld. Nadav "The Dove" Henefeld.
Henefeld joined Coach Jim Calhoun's University of Connecticut squad. In 1989-90, Nadav helped lead the Huskies to a 31-6 record, the Big East title, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, and into the national spotlight. Henefeld averaged 11.6 points per game in the tourney, and the Huskies reached the Elite Eight before falling to Duke, 79-78, in overtime on Christian Laettner's last-second shot. During the regular season, Nadav averaged 29.5 minutes, 11.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 3.7 steals per game, setting the NCAA freshman record for steals in a season (with 138) as he earned the nickname "The Gaza Stripper," and was named Big East Newcomer of the Year. Nadav's three-point shooting ability was particularly notable; he hit on 43 outside shots in 114 attempts (a 37.7 percentage). He would never shoot threes that often again, despite his obvious ability to do so.

Bobthetraveller, good call on Scott Burrell. Not only did he jump cleanly over Rodney Rogers, but he delivered the full court fastball to Tate George to set up 'The Shot'! Guess the Toronto Blue Jays knew something when they drafted him.

Teams used to fear Uconn's smothering defense, and nobody was better that Ricky Moore.

Would have been interesting to see how Corny and Mike McKay would have developed under Calhoun